Debates of February 15, 2005 (day 36)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise again one more time today to again solidify my stressful concern about the lack of doctors seeing patients. Mr. Speaker, there still are a few doctors seeing patients on a fee-for-service basis, but I’m concerned that switching to salary has not increased the number of visits per day. Would the Minister of Health and Social Services provide some information today to show or explain if we’re getting better services per visit per patient in our system? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 382-15(3): Access To Medical Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of wait times in Yellowknife is one with a number of components. The Member is correct that when we switched from fee-for-service to salary, the number of patients seen did drop. We have added doctors. In addition, we’re also looking at some of the other complexities; for example, the fact that the doctors are employees of the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Board, but spend the majority of their time working at Stanton. We’re looking at how the emergency room is structured. We’re looking at the possibility of integrating the three downtown clinics into one more efficient and effective clinic that will have the capacity to provide some of the basic clinic services that right now they can’t, such as basic outpatient services, X-rays and such, that now they have to go to Stanton to get. This is an issue with many component pieces. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 382-15(3): Access To Medical Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Miltenberger, for first acknowledging the fact that it isn’t quite working out as it may have been dreamt of. I’m glad to hear that we’re trying to strive forward. Mr. Speaker, I have people in Yellowknife who cannot get a family doctor. I have people who are told by the clinics that they have to go wait in emergency and, if it’s not of a life or death nature, they have to sit there between four and six hours because they’re not considered a priority at emergency. Mr. Speaker, how does the Minister plan to address that type of problem? I’d like to hear the Minister tell me that they’re working towards a type of legislation that would make sure that no person is refused a family doctor and that they’re served in a reasonable time. How is the Minister addressing that problem? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 382-15(3): Access To Medical Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have a Collective Agreement with the Medical Association that’s going to carry us into 2007-2008, but if I could just quickly reiterate some of the points that I gave in my last answer. We are looking at how emergency is currently structured, and the Member is correct, that it is estimated that anywhere from 40 to 50 percent of the people at emergency aren’t really emergency patients; they could be seen in other areas such as in a clinic or by nurse practitioners. So we’re looking at that and there’s money in the budget for the renovation of Stanton, as well as the master plan which will look at how we structure the emergency ward. As I indicated, as well, we’re also looking at the fact that we have three small, old, out-of-date clinics in the downtown that we’re looking to consolidate into one more efficient and effective clinic; one that will hopefully have hours that go above and beyond 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 382-15(3): Access To Medical Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I really appreciate that detailed answer, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Speaker, I still have the problem that the Minister has identified, that the present Collective Agreement goes to 2007-2008 and, of course, we’re working on this year’s 2004-2005 budget, so that’s approximately three years. I’ve even heard rumours that the doctors want to switch from 20 patients a day down to 16 patients a day. He did say that they’re looking at expanding the hours, but is there any way we can talk about shifting forward quickly about seeing these missed appointment opportunities? We have constituents out there who do not have family doctors. How does the Minister envision that we could solve that problem right away, and can you answer the 16-patient per day question? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. I heard about three questions there. Mr. Miltenberger, you may answer one or three. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 382-15(3): Access To Medical Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have, as I’ve indicated, a number of initiatives underway that are going to address the quality of care and access issues in Yellowknife. With regard to the Member’s assertion that he’s heard this rumour, I’m not in a position in this House to speak to that rumour. I have not heard that. I know what arrangements we do have with the doctors and I do know all the many plans we have underway to address the quality of care in Yellowknife. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 382-15(3): Access To Medical Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I respect the fact that the Minister doesn’t want to talk about that subject, because it’s out for bargaining or discussion on an informal basis. I can appreciate that, so I won’t go into that. My last question is how does this Minister plan to address the fact that we still have families out there who can’t get a family doctor? We could ask for 35 doctors coming to the city…

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. I heard a question there. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 382-15(3): Access To Medical Services

Mr. Speaker, I’ll just focus on reiterating one of the points that I raised, and that is that we are trying to come up with a blend at the clinic with the level of nurse practitioners, nurses and doctors that will help alleviate some of the waiting times and make access by patients to see the necessary medical people easier. We have a document in the works that will soon be coming forward through Cabinet and, hopefully, in the not-too-distant future to the Social Programs committee for discussion, that looks at how the hospitals and health centres are operating right now and some plans for improvements. Thank you.